Justice Alito Stresses Federalism As Refuge from Usurpatory Government

With the Supreme Court and the future of constitutional government in doubt, it’s always reassuring to hear from the voices who espouse those views. I’m an ardent optimist. I have faith that the electorate will correct their decisions made on Nov. 6, and constrain this president’s pernicious agenda of implementing a hyper-regulatory progressive state. The Federalist Society’s 30th Anniversary Gala last Thursday night featured Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, who detailed how the legal opinions of those on the left threaten America’s constitutional bedrock: federalism.

To put it simplistically, the federal government is supreme in its sphere, as is the state government in their defined area. There is overlap – and confusion. However, Alito gave a robust defense of the doctrine. While it’s seen better days, federalism in Alito’s view, promotes energetic and productive competition, protects liberty, and encourages experimentation. He also reiterated that you do not have to buy the various treatises on constitutional law that run over a thousand pages – and cost a considerable amount of money – to understand that congressional power is limited. You just have to read the plain text of the U.S. Constitution to understand that point.

He then went on to detail various cases that have threatened this principle of federalism. From the government being able to attach GPS monitors surreptitiously to your vehicles and calling it a search under the Fourth Amendment to facing the regulatory nightmare of having wetlands being designated in one’s backyard, the fight to keep the Madisonian experiment in limited government, and the principles of federalism un-imbrued continues with fragility.

We have four liberals, four conservatives, with Justice Alito included, and moderate Justice Kennedy on the bench, which isn’t a firm legal defense of the principles conservatives wish to see blemished. And more fights will come. One fight in particular that was highly salient – which was described more in depth by Justice Alito, concerned Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC.

In this case, Cheryl Perich was hired by the Hosanna-Tabor Lutheran Church and School, taught some lessons, contracted narcolepsy, took a leave of absence, and was subsequently replaced. She sued under the American with Disabilities Act, however, the ministerial exception gave more latitude to religious institution in terms of hiring and firing processes. The Court ruled unanimously that such an exception applied here, and therefore, discrimination lawsuits brought against religious institutions aren’t valid.

Well, The New York Times, to no one’s surprise, didn’t take too kindly to the decision. But, the argument for Perich and The New York Times is disturbing. Should courts be allowed to review cases, and make decisions based on legal and religious doctrines? Is it up to a judge and jury to decide a termination? If accepted, government would have been able to go deep into the dynamics of religious institutions, and the doctrines that guide them. That’s gross overreach.For jurists to decide cases based solely on church doctrine, if this argument were accepted by the Court, and not law is insane. As Justice Alito said at the dinner, it’s a “chilling” foray into this plausible episode of government intrusion.

This nation proudly and robustly defends the right to free speech enshrined in our First Amendment. However, this case, and Citizens United, shows how some people on the left will try to alter the Constitution to fit their model on how they feel government should operate – or feel whole again. Citizens United, the more controversial of the two cases, was boiled down to the government making the case the speech articulated or disseminated by the privileged few is protected, but isn’t for other parties in the country. That’s perverse, and it doesn’t stop there.

Justice Alito concluded with a warning about the alternate vision we’re fighting against in the judiciary. It’s a vision where federalism offers no refuge. It’s an insufferable progressive state that stomps on religious institutions and freedoms. It’s a government that can willingly seize private property. Justice Alito vociferously made the case that the U.S. Constitution wasn’t meant to be malleable with a dependent, entitled society. It was designed for the citizens operating within a socioeconomic fabric that stressed freedom and independence. This document embeds certain rights, so that they can’t be easily removed from the political landscape. Therefore, as Justice Alito alluded to, it’s integral to the survival of our freedom, and our commitment to be an open and prosperous society.

About Matt Vespa

I'm a staunch Republican and a politics junkie who was recently the Executive Director for the Dauphin County Republican Committee in Harrisburg. Before that, I interned with the Republican Party of Pennsylvania in the summer of 2011 and Mary Pat Christie, First Lady of NJ, within the Office of the Governor of NJ in 2010. I was responsible for updating his personal contact list. My first political internship was with Tom Kean Jr's. U.S. Senate campaign in 2006.

2 comments

I agree, L.E.L. although I think ‘abuse’ is a softer word than I would use. The cherry picking & selective enforcement of laws is far beyond the very bacis this, our beloved nation, was founded on. Our entire may of life is being shredded & the big boot of Government grinds our Declaration Of Independence in the mud, using our Bill of Rights as a doormat. When is enough enough? I would think…along about now…

It is refreshing to see that there is somebody on that court that is worried about a runaway, unconstitutional government. The sad thing is that all three branches of government are abusing the powers given them in the Constitution. The judiciary looks on the Constitution as a living thing, and the congressional and executive branches deny it exist. Instead of the numerated powers listed in our Constitution the government is doing whatever it wants to do with no consequences. The checks and balances of the branches are nonexistant today. And that explains why our country, the economy and national defense is in shambles. We have selective enforcement of our laws, while the God given rights of the people are trampled in the dirt. Our Founders stated that when things get like this, it is time to change the government.